Trump still contagious? Experts say it's impossible to know
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he doesn't think he's contagious anymore, but medical experts say that's impossible to know a week after his diagnosis with COVID-19.
Most people with COVID-19 can stop isolating and be around others about 10 days after they first showed symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's provided their symptoms have improved, they have not had a fever for 24 hours and are no longer on any medication to reduce a high temperature. But there's no way to know for certain that someone is no longer contagious so soon after falling ill, experts say.
“At this point, there’s no diagnostic test that tells you whether a person that’s infected remains infectious,” said Dr. Benjamin Pinsky, who leads Stanford University's virology labs. “There is absolutely a chain of unknowns.”
Trump's doctors have said he had COVID-19 symptoms last Thursday, so he'd reach 10 days on Sunday. They reported Wednesday that he hasn't had a fever for days and had been symptom-free for over 24 hours, while Trump said on Thursday that he was still taking dexamethasone, a steroid that can reduce fevers.
Trump's aides were weighing travel options for the president, including trips for small events next week. During a telephone interview with Fox Business, Trump said Thursday: “I think I’m better to the point where I’d love to do a rally tonight.” He also said “I don’t think I’m contagious at all."
Since his return to the White House Monday evening, only a few staffers — and no reporters — have laid eyes on the president, who has announced updates to his condition via Twitter and a few online videos. His doctors haven't held a press conference since Trump left the hospital, only releasing statements with limited information.
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